You might have heard about the gourmet delicacy called bird’s nest. Well, the Southeast Asian specialty is much more interesting than you thought. We’re talking about a delicious treat with excellent nutritional values and an endless list of health benefits to its name. Bird’s nest is becoming one of the trendiest (and tastiest) superfoods, and it’s easy to see why. Here’s all you need to know about bird’s nest. If you were looking for gift ideas, you’re in the right place!
Bird’s nest, the food, is actually a bird’s nest!
The chirpy and swift singing birds known as edible-nest swiftlet create these nests. These tireless Southeast Asian birds thrive in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines in the most beautiful natural landscapes. Every year, the birds build their nests in caves and steep cliffs to lay and hatch their eggs during the breeding season.
Although it might sound odd, the male birds build these pretty nests with their saliva, but that’s precisely why the nests are so coveted; they’re super nutritious and are part of the traditional Chinese medicine cabinet.
No, the swiftlets won’t miss their old home.
No, no bird is left without a home. As soon as the newborn swiftlets leave the nest, they never return, and their parents build a new nest the following season. The abandoned nests might not be useful for the birds anymore, but they’re certainly helpful for us!
Besides, quality-oriented suppliers offer sustainably farmed nests harvested from specialized swiftlet houses in Malaysia and Indonesia. This means you can enjoy bird’s nest guilt-free. No animals were harmed in the making of this delicious treat!
Bird’s nest has been around forever.
You’ll be surprised to know bird’s nest drinks and broths, like the famous yan wo or bird’s nest soup, have been enjoyed for centuries.
People have enjoyed bird’s nest silken texture, delicate flavour and health benefits for at least 400 years. An ancient Chinese cookbook going back to the Ch’ing dynasty already recommended how to cook the gourmet food!
Back then, the nests were reserved for the emperor and other noble families, and although still exclusive, now you can order bird’s nest to your doorstep with a few clicks.
Bird’s nest is delicious!
Bird’s nests are now known for being healthy, but the first people that harvested them did so for the delicacy’s fantastic flavour and texture.
Bird’s nests can be dissolved with water to make a classic soup or flavour a rice bowl for a wholesome experience. And we’re just getting started. Bird’s nest’s subtle, jelly-like texture gives body to the most decadent custardy sweet desserts as well.
Bird’s nest is healthy, too.
The small nests can weigh up to 10 grams, but they’re packed with nutrition. Every bird’s nest is made with the swiftlet’s saliva, and they’re a good source of protein, high-quality carbohydrates and antioxidants, swiftlet’s bird’s nests also have excellent amounts of magnesium, potassium, iron and calcium.
It comes without saying traditional medicine uses the nests to keep your skin young and healthy, relieve coughing, improving appetite and even supporting women through pregnancy.
Bird’s nest is beautifully compatible with other flavours.
Bird’s nest is delicious on its own, but it shines best when paired with other tasty superfoods. The silky nest is nicely compatible with pandan (Asia’s vanilla bean), wolfberries, ginseng, and even rosebuds.
There’s more. You can enjoy a traditional bird’s nest soup brewed with various ingredients, but you can also enjoy it in its simplest form with a bird's nest drink that is sweetened with only rock sugar. The sky’s the limit for this traditional all-natural delight.
Where to Buy Bird’s Nest?
To experience the lovely flavour, texture and health benefits of premium-quality bird’s nest, you need to get it from a reputable source.
The Purest Co’s Bird’s Nest, founded in 2019, has changed the bird’s nest market with sustainable, traceable and highly nutritional bird’s nest sourced from the finest producers in the world.
With aims on offering this traditional delicacy with the standards we’d expect from any premium food, The Purest Co’s bird’s nest is more than a gourmet product — it’s a fantastic gift for you or your loved ones. Are you ready to try bird’s nest?